While gaming desktops might be a bit more complicated than the Xbox Series X and the PS5, buying a pre-built desktop computer isn't too different from buying a new console, especially with us to help guide you. Whether you're looking for a low-power rig for DoTA or the most powerful machine on the market, there's a PC out there for you. If you're not ready for the time commitment and frustration that comes with building a rig yourself, plus the headache of components coming in and out of stock, buying a pre-built can give you a great starting point for playing PC games. There's always the option to further upgrade with a new CPU, more RAM, or a larger SSD.
If you want the best possible looking games, there are still reasons to buy a gaming PC. The gaming consoles currently on the market may offer some of the best in 4K gaming, but you can just get more raw graphical power packed into a gaming desktop. There really isn't a substitute for a desktop even when you're comparing a gaming laptop vs gaming desktop. If you opt for a machine with a graphics card from Nvidia's RTX 30 lineup like the RTX 3080 Ti or RTX 3090, this power can really be seen – and click here to find our picks in the UK.
Looking for discounts on the best gaming PCs? Keep an eye on the upcoming Black Friday sales.
TL;DR – These are the Best Gaming PCs
Lenovo Legion Tower 5i
Best Gaming PC
For a reasonably priced and capable gaming PC that fledgling PC gamers should flock to, grab the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i. This rig comes well-equipped with an Intel Core i7-12700 CPU and Nvidia RTX 3060 for all the power you need to play the latest games in 1080p at high frame rates, even with ray tracing on. That 12th-gen Intel processor also offers high-end performance, toting single and multi-threading for all the computing power you’ll need, from your daily tasks to streaming and recording gameplay.
If there isn't enough value packed into this gaming PC, you even get 16GB of speedy DDR5 memory to make multitasking a breeze, while the 256GB SSD ensures quick boots with plenty of additional storage available on the 1TB hard drive. The Lenovo Legion Tower 5i also comes well-built with standard components and a tempered glass panel to show off your hardware. And all that hardware should remain reasonably cool with an intake fan behind a mesh panel for ample airflow.
iBuyPower SlateMesh Gaming Desktop
Best Budget Gaming PC
To snag the latest and greatest hardware for slightly north of $1,200, the iBuyPower SlateMesh Gaming Desktop can keep up with the best of them. You get an Intel 12th Gen Core i7 processor paired with an Nvidia RTX 3060 for ample processing headroom and excellent efficiency to power through 1080p or even 1440p gaming with some graphical effects turned off.
Those components play nicely with the 16 GB of DDR4 memory, which can expand up to 128GB if you plan on using multiple heavy applications while gaming. The 500GB of PCIe 4.0 SSD storage means those programs should have speedy startups, while the 1TB HDD also ensures plenty of space to make saves. Adding more value to this well-rounded rig are the included RGB keyboard and mouse, so there are two peripherals you don’t need to worry about investing in.
Alienware Aurora R13
Best High-End Gaming PC
If you’re ready to splurge, then check out the Alienware Aurora R13. Inside its head-turning design is some serious PC gaming hardware with an Intel Core i9-12900KF CPU and Nvidia RTX 3090 Ti graphics. With those two high-end components, you’re going to have plenty of muscle to handle whatever kind of gaming you want to throw at this system. Whether you’re targeting high framerates at 4K or encoding videos in mere minutes, this rig is well-built for the task.
This Alienware machine is also well-fitted with plenty of storage, giving you 2TB of high-speed NVMe storage to run the OS and all your favorite games. With 64GB of DDR5 memory running at 4400 MHz memory, you’ll also have no trouble multitasking. This gaming PC may cost a ghastly $5,800, but it has the performance to back up its stratospheric price.
Corsair One i300
Best Mini Gaming PC
You might think a gaming PC this small surely couldn’t be that powerful—but size doesn’t matter when it comes to computers. The Corsair One i300 might be mini, but it’s mighty with Intel Core i9-12900K and Nvidia RTX 3080. With all that power, you’ll be able to simultaneously play games at 4K and a high frame rate. Plus, it has plenty of storage for your favorite games and memory to keep everything running smoothly.
All of that comes in a chassis that’s only 12 liters large, making it perfect for those without a ton of space looking to put a mini PC in their living room or bedroom. You won’t have to worry about it getting as hot as the nuclear power core it resembles, either. That’s because this compact rig features liquid cooling of the CPU and GPU, while a high-airflow fan exhaust pushes all the heat through the top like a chimney.
Where to Get the Best Gaming PC in the UK
Getting your gaming PC prebuilt can save a lot of time and hassle for you, and this is still the case no matter where you are in the world. We've cheated a little bit with this, as plenty of the options on our list are available to purchase and shipped to the UK. Newegg, for example, will ship several brilliant pre-builds, all the way from the US to the UK. Costs for shipping, and the PCs in general, are low, so you shouldn't have any worries going forward.
What to Look For in a Gaming PC
Below we go over the basic specifications you should prioritize when buying a gaming PC and how to get the most of your purchase of a prebuilt rig. We also explain a few alternative options you might find of interest as well.
Prebuilts are the most surefire way of getting into gaming and arguably the most cost-effective hardware you can buy. When buying a system, you’re not only getting the hardware inside but time savings of having to track down the best processor to best RAM for your system and putting it all together yourself and praying it actually boots up correctly.
That said, just like building your own PC you want to make sure you’re spending your money where it’s needed most. Firstly, you should prioritize you’re getting the graphics card you need for the gaming monitor or the 4K TV you’re gaming on. There’s no need for anything better than an Nvidia GTX 1660 if you’re just playing games on a 1080p display.
Likewise, you should only need an Intel Core i5 or Ryzen 5 processor with at least four cores to play most modern games comfortably at any resolution.
System memory and solid-state drives can be the biggest money sink for any system. Those comfortable with upgrading their system after it arrives should choose a configuration with the smallest storage and RAM capacities possible, as buying these components yourself can often be more cost-effective.
If that last suggestion resonates with you, perhaps a barebones system is what you seek. Barebones PCs can be much cheaper since they come with all the major hardware—such as the CPU, GPU, and power supply—installed, but they usually lack storage, memory, and an operating system as a trade-off.
Lastly, if you want more control over what exactly is going into your build, go with a boutique PC builder. Origin, Maingear, DigitalStorm, Falcon Northwest, PC Specialist, and many more companies offer excellent PC building services that let you pick exactly which components go into your gaming PC. From there, they build your system with the sort of cable management some can only dream of while ensuring it all works properly out of the box.
In case this all sounds a little overwhelming to you, NZXT has its own PC building service called BLD. Instead of picking every part that will go into your PC, you chose the games you’ll actually play and the service gives you several configuration options that will be able to run the games for a smooth experience.
Similarly, iBuyPower offers an Easy Builder service that operates in very much the same fashion. Users can select games that they play from a small pool that includes Fortnite, GTA V, Apex Legends, WoW, League of Legends, Overwatch, and Battlefield V. From there, users can select whether they play at a 1080p or 1440p resolution, as well as their budget and the system, will spit back a few configurations to choose from.
Beyond choosing the components you need, prebuilt PC's come with several features and pieces of software you might find convenient. Many gaming PCs in this category come with some sort of overclocking support and even a one-click button to boost your system's performance. Of course, it's easy enough to download a piece of overclocking software like MSI Afterburner or EVGA Precision X. Additionally, your machine may come with system monitoring software that makes downloading and updating drivers a breeze.
Life after purchase
Another important thing you'll want to keep in mind when buying a prebuilt desktop is how easy is it to upgrade down the line.
Most PC manufacturers have figured out users absolutely hate proprietary parts. While you might still find no-name motherboards installed into the hearth of your PC, they should all at least fall in line with the standard size and layout of Mini ITX or Micro ATX motherboards. The best gaming PCs should allow you to easily swap out the CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage on your system with just a few simple tools or just a screwdriver.
Better yet, systems that tout tool-less upgradability don't require you to undo screws or anything to replace any of the major components. One of the things you'll likely find on most modern chassis are thumbscrews, which can be removed after a few quick twists with your fingers rather than a screwdriver. Additionally, tool-less SSD and hard drive caddies make expanding and replacing your storage just a little bit easier.
Kevin Lee is IGN's Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam.
Image Credit: Annalee Tsujino is a multi disciplinary designer and illustrator. Check them out on Instagram @antsu_illustrations.
from IGN All https://ift.tt/ENVO2aS
https://ift.tt/DNCcu9Z
Share your thoughts here.